Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that a 23-year-old Brentwood man was sentenced to 20 years in prison for forcibly raping and sexually abusing his girlfriend and then stealing her electronic devices to prevent her from calling for help.
The District Attorney’s Office is not naming the defendant in order to protect the identity of the victim.
“Today’s sentencing reflects the gravity of this defendant’s heinous crimes. No one should ever suffer such trauma for exercising their right to leave a relationship,” said District Attorney Tierney. “My office remains steadfast in our commitment to holding preparators of intimate partner violence accountable. We encourage anyone who has been victimized to contact the Suffolk County Police Department or the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.”
The evidence at trial established that the defendant had been in a relationship with the victim for approximately five years, but she had been planning to end the relationship due to her belief that the defendant was using drugs.
In the early morning hours of April 12, 2024, the defendant woke up angry, pinned the victim down on their bed, and began to strangle her, causing her to break several nails while trying to get his hands off her neck. The defendant told the victim that if she wasn’t going to be with him, then she wasn’t going to be with anyone. He then pulled her clothes off before forcibly sexually abusing her. The victim begged him to stop, and even vomited from the attack, but the defendant did not relent. Afterwards, the defendant took all the victim’s electronic devices, including her phone, iWatch, and iPad, and left with them. The victim had no way of contacting the police, she fled to her mother’s house and then reported the incident to law enforcement. The police recovered the victim’s stolen property from the defendant at the time of his arrest later that day.
On March 20, 2025, the defendant was found guilty of the following charges after a bench trial heard before Supreme Court Justice Timothy P. Mazzei:
- One count of Rape in the First Degree, a Class B violent felony;
- Two counts of Criminal Sexual Act in the First Degree, Class B violent felonies;
- One count of Aggravated Sexual Abuse, a Class B violent felony;
- One count of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, a Class D violent felony;
- One count of Rape in the Third Degree, a Class E felony;
- Two counts of Criminal Sexual Act in the Third Degree, Class E felonies;
- One count of Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a Class E felony;
- One count of Criminal Obstruction of Breathing, a Class A misdemeanor; and
- One count of Criminal Mischief in the Fourth Degree, a Class A misdemeanor.
On May 21, 2025, Judge Mazzei sentenced the defendant to 20 years in prison followed by 15 years of post-release supervision. He is also required to register as a sex offender. The defendant is being represented by Daniel Rodgers, Esq.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys James Scahill and Sean Murphy of the Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Detectives Michael Dormer and Dario Perito of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Third Squad.
Criminal complaints and indictments are merely accusatory instruments. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. No one is above the law.